"Complexity bewilders and discourages. Simplicity
has a seductive beauty. (Un)fortunately, neither God,
nor His universe are as simple as we are. " These
concluding words of Dave Wilcox's paper in this
issue,"A Taxonomy of Creation," could sum up many
of the controversies of our day. We search for simple
answers in history, sociology, technology, biology,
et
cetera;
but God, His universe, and all the creatures He
has made-including us humans-are fantastically
complex. Furthermore, our search for simplicity is
often made with a lack of recognition of our creaturely
finiteness to say nothing of our sinful condition which
warps our judgment. In our pursuit of knowledge we
Christians especially should be examples of godly
humility and exhibit a real sense of awe for the world
around us and its Creator. This issue of the journal
includes several papers that emphasize this awe and
humility.

Russell Heddendorf, a sociologist and recent ASA
president, reminds us of some of the social phenomena
involved in the rise of modern science and its relations
with theology as both strive to relate to the modern
world. He stresses the need for a return to religious
values which can act as "plausibility structures" for the
scientist and society.

Russell Maatman, a chemistry professor, presents, in
a paper of special interest to fellow college chemistry
instructors, a perspective which emphasizes chemistry
as a gift of God. The complexity and the diversity of
chemical phenomena are to be admired, not only for
their own sake, but as reflectors of the glory of their
Creator. In addition, such chemical marvels are to be
used responsibly; human beings are stewards of God's
workmanship.

One of the rapidly developing areas of computer
technology is that of artificial intelligence (AI). Dennis Feucht, a professor of electrical engineering, gives us a
careful analysis of such developments in light of recent
mind-brain research. At a time when many people,
including some Christians, are suggesting that Al developments could be dehumanizing or even satanic, such a
careful consideration as Dr. Feucht gives us is of great
significance.

While there are important scientific and theological
issues in the ongoing creation/evolution debates, much
of the problem devolves from careless and unscholarly
use of emotive words lacking clear definition. David
Wilcox, a biologist and chairman of our Creation
Commission, attempts to sort through some of these
terminology difficulties in a way which at least makes it
clear that a simple, dogmatic "creation
or
evolution"
position is gross oversimplification.

Many observers of western society have described
the numerous ways in which we have been losing our
sense of community and the awesome results of such a
loss. Jerry Bergman surveys, as a sociologist, the concept of community as it can be applied and misapplied
in society and in the church. After examining the
distorted application of community in the cults, Dr.
Bergman reminds us of the importance to the church of
a sense of oneness.

Analyzing the concept of community with particular
concern for the disruptive tendencies within current
evangelical Christianity, Donald MacKay, a British
neuroscientist, warns us of the dangers of our separation from fellow evangelicals with whom we disagree.
His plea for direct, prayerful confrontation--as iron
sharpens iron"-needs to be heeded at all levels of
evangelicalism, including the science/theology interface.